The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-11
How to Make Prohibition Successful.

How to Make Prohibition Successful.
The prohibition vote in the recent election
in Kentucky was very small. This is rather
remarkable in view of the fact that several
counties of that State have adopted prohi-
ton under local option law. The Prohi-
bition vote i'll Texas last week was a great
deal smaller than it was expected it would
be- In fact, the most enthusiastic of the
Anti Prohibitionists did not estimate their
majority above 10000 and they were very
much surprised when the returns showed it
to be about double that Next month Ten
neSsee votes on a prohibition amendment
similar TO that which was defeated in Texas
and before the Texas election the opinion
seemed to prevail that the Tennessee amend
\ent would be carried The result of the
Texas contest, however, may so encourage
the Anti-Prohibitionists and discourage the
Prohibitionists as to bring about reaction.
In that event there will be another prohibi-
ton defeat to be recorded.
In reviewing the various prohibition con-
tests there are several things which are
quite noticeable One thing is that prohi-
bition commands comparatively few votes
when it is mixed up with politics. The
Prohibiti0nists do not, in any considerable
numbers, vote for prohibition candidates at
either national or State elections. Another
thing is that when prohibition is presented
as an issue at a State election, although not
connected with politics, it does not com
mand the full prohibition strength.
These things would seem to Indicate that
the people do not seem to regard prohibition
as a political question nor as a national or
State issue. They look upon it as local
issue. If this conclusion is a correct one
then the Prohibitionists would display wis
dom by giving their entire time and atten-
ton to the local option plan, because it has,
as a rule. been followed by success wher-
ever it has been tried There are several
strong reasons in its favor. One is that it
does not afford politicians an opportunity to
use prohibition for the advancement of their
political fortunes Another is that prohibi-
ton is not forced upon communities that
do not want it, and in which, therefore, it
cannot be enforced. 1t is adopted only
where the way has been prepared for it, and
where public sentiment is sufficiently strong
w lllbult tOllDlIhilCt NiJu lbS iCSuAttulOiiS.
If Texas and Tennessee Prohibitionists
will adopt the local option plan their States
will accept prohibition much sooner than if
prohibitory constitutional amendments are
insisted upon. Maine has had State pro-
hibitory law for twenty years, and yet the
restriction upon the sale of intoxicating
liquors in her large towns is comparatively
slight. In this State, where there
is a local option law, and where
four-ffths of the counties have
adopted prohibition under its authority, the
sale of Intoxicating liquors has been almost
wholly stopped in the prohibition counties
Whisky is carried into some of those coun-
ties in jugs, but even the jug traffic has
ceased to be as noticeable as it once was
The young men are being educated to be
lieve in prohibition, and as the good effects
of the reform become more clearly recog
nized the prohibition sentiment grows
stronger. The anti-prohibition counties,
particularly those which are adjacent to the
prohibition counties, become infected, as it
were with prohibition ideas, and, without
much agitation, they are ready almost be
fore they are aware of it to join the pro
hibition column.
The great difficulty with which prohib-
ton has TO contend is that too many of those
who are prominent in the prohibition move
ment insist upon making prohibition po-
litical rather than moral question. They
want to make it serve their personal pur-
posses. Neal Dow, for instance, said a few
days ago that the first duty of the prohibi-
tionists was TO destroy the Republican party.
He hopes, of course, to build up Prohibi-
ton party upon the ruins of that party.
The freer prohibition is kept from politics
the greater will its success be. The truth of
this experience is daily teaching.